Patent GB-786654-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to waxes containing oxygen
IPC: C10G73/38
Filed: 1955-03-18
Abstract: Wax compositions containing fatty acids are produced by catalytically oxidizing a paraffin wax having a M.W. of at least 800, in a molten state with oxygen or a gas containing free oxygen at a temperature below 145 DEG  C. so that the acid number of the product is at least 5 but below 40.  The paraffin waxes may have a mean M.W. of 830-1100, and may be natural or synthetic waxes, e.g. those derived from the Fischer Tropsch synthesis.  The hard waxes may be prepared by high vacuum distillation and/or crystallization of such waxes and olefins, if present, eliminated by hydrogenation.  Catalysts referred to are fatty acid salts of manganese, cobalt and copper, potassium permanganate, manganese dioxide and iron or silver oxides.  The oxidized wax may be purified by vacuum distillation to remove low molecular weight compounds.  Fatty acid salts may be incorporated in the oxidized wax, for example by reaction of the fatty acids in the oxidized wax with carbonates, oxides or hydroxides of the alkaline earth metals or aluminium, zinc, silver, chromium or iron and/or carbonates of alkali metals; the amount of alkali metals present may be at least 3 times the total amount of polyvalent metals present. In an example, hard paraffin wax produced in a Fischer-Tropsch process and having a mean M.W. of 600 and M.P. of 90-95 DEG  C. is vacuum distilled, 0.1 per cent manganese stearate is added to the residue having a mean M.W. of 870 and air passed through the mixture at 140-145 DEG  C. for 4-5 hours.  Lower molecular weight compounds are removed by vacuum distillation and to the residue, having an acid number of 36, calcium, zinc, sodium and potassium carbonates are added to form salts with the free fatty acids present in the oxidized wax.  The similar preparation of another oxidized wax having an acid number of 5.6 is described; this wax is reacted with calcium and zinc oxides and sodium and potassium carbonates to form salts therein.ALSO:Waxes containing oxygen are produced by catalytically oxidizing a paraffin wax having a M.W. of at least 800, in a molten state with oxygen or a gas containing free oxygen at a temperature below 145 DEG  C. so that the acid number of the product is at least 5 but below 40.  The paraffin waxes may have a mean M.W. of 830-1100, and may be natural or synthetic waxes, e.g. those derived from the Fischer Tropsch synthesis.  The hard waxes may be prepared by high vacuum distillation and/or crystallization of such waxes and olefins, if present, eliminated by hydrogenation.  Catalysts referred to are fatty acid salts of manganese, cobalt and copper, potassium permanganate, manganese dioxide and iron or silver oxides.  The oxidized wax may be purified by vacuum distillation to remove low molecular weight compounds.  Fatty acid salts may be incorporated in the oxidized wax, for example by reaction of the fatty acids in the wax with carbonates, oxides or hydroxides of the alkaline earth metals or aluminium, zinc, silver, chromium or iron and/or carbonates of alkali metals; the amount of alkali metals present may be at least 3 times the total amount of polyvalent metals present.  Detailed examples of compositions useful as paste-emulsion polishes are given comprising the oxidized waxes containing sodium, potassium, calcium and zinc salts, together with hard and soft paraffin waxes, and which may also contain white spirits or paraffin, water and potassium carbonate; and of an emulsion polish containing the oxidized wax, soft paraffin wax, oleic acid, morpholine, borax, water and carnauba wax.